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Researcher Gets Prison For Selling Trade Secrets

Former researcher for Lubrizol has been sentenced in Cleveland to 19 months in prison for selling the chemical company's trade secrets to a competitor in South Korea.

CLEVELAND (AP) -- A former chemicals company researcher has been sentenced in Cleveland to 19 months in prison for selling trade secrets to a competitor in South Korea.

U.S. District Court Judge Solomon Oliver sentenced 62-year-old Kyung J. Kim of suburban Broadview Heights on Thursday. He was ordered to pay $188,700 in restitution to Lubrizol Corp.

The government said Kim had at least 17 meetings to provide information about Lubrizol trade secrets to SK Chemicals in Seoul, South Korea. The government says Kim got $10,000 in cash at each meeting.

Three SK Chemicals executives were indicted on conspiracy charges Nov. 12.

Lubrizol, with headquarters in the Cleveland suburb of Wickliffe, makes additives for engine oils and industrial lubricants.

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